Mr Penrose, page 16
Harry and Patty would frequently go and seat themselves on the grave for an hour or two conversing together. I became so indifferent after this had happened that I cared little how it went except I took good heed to my two children, and I must say Patty and Jessy used their best endevours to discharge their duty toward them. Ocuma, being as yet incapable of speaking English, could do no more than silently bemoan me and the Children. About a month after this had happened Patty lost her daughter Matty in a kind of fitts, and we buried her by the side of Luta.
1. This old folk custom to bring good luck and to ward off evil was current in Germany, England, and the American South and Midwest, and doubtless elsewhere.
Chapter 13
The place became now quite melancholy So that I went out oftener than before with one or other of the Lads, and it was on one of these trips that we found a large lump of Ambergriss, as I judged it to be by its strong smell altho I had never seen any of it in my life. It weighed 150 pounds or so. We laid it by on a shelf of the rocks and laid Aloe leaves about it as I found some sort of insects eate it. This stuff was of a dark grey colour and of no manner of use to me; but as I thought if it was really the true thing it must be of much worth could it be transported to Europe.
One day as I returned from fishing with Toby, on my entering into our dwelling I found Harry and the Girls very ernest over those stones I had inscribed, for I had placed them on a row above the childs reach in order to preserve them, and had added one for poor Luta. On enquiring what they were about Harry said they were learning them to talk. “How so?” said I.
“Oh,” said he, “we know who they all are very well.” That cannot be, I thought, but on my making trial I was astonished to find they could call them all over distinctly by name. I could not but wonder at it, but it plainly shewed they were capable of remembrance so as to be able to learn all those stones by some distinct mark, colour, shape or magnitude; but it came into my head that they must have learnt them as they were ranged. This I was determined to know, and told them all to withdraw while I changed their places. This I did, then called them in again, but to my confusion they were still as perfect as before I moved them.
Some time after this we had a few days of very dirty weather With the wind from the Southwest and great Thunder, lightning and rain. Now it chanced as Harry went to look out after it had lulled a time, he came driving down to me open mouthed and said there was a Great Ship coming to us. Thus put us all in a flutter. Up I ran and saw plainly a large Ship heeling on her larboard side on the Key Reef with her head to the shore With colours out as a signal of distress. I then got my glass and could percieve as I thought them Dutch Colours, she being about 6 miles from us in a direct line.
How to act I could not tell as I was not certain of her being a Real Dutchman, but the cause was to do good if I could. In the mean time the wind shifted and fell more. Now, thinks I, go I will some how or other, and ordered them to get ready the boat, with fire tacklin. I then got out a Shirt from my poor store and in I jumped with Toby. When we got to the point of our Lagoon we made up a good fire and I fixed up my Shirt. Soon after we percieved a boat put off directly for us. On this I got into our boat thinking that now I was in for it, I would give all up to Providence; and back we hurried as fast as we could.
When I got home I dressed myself as I had done when the Indians came last and took my little Owen in to the boat with me. Harry, seeing this, said they would come too. “Well, then, first get your arms,” said I. He was not long before he came down to the point after us, bringing the poor Girls and children also. This vexed me highly but as I plainly saw he did not know what he was doing I held my peace, having enough on my head at that time. When we all shewed our selves at the fire they Shewed a White flag abaft, then a Dutch jack and white flag again. Now was I strongly agitated between hope, fear and desire.
As they came near I told Harry and Toby to follow me and do all they saw me do. Then we left the women and children by the fire and away I Marched with my two messmates behind me to meet them. When they came abreast of us a Man stood up in the boat and hail’d us. I clapt my hands to my mouth and answered, “Hollow!” On this they pulled in for the shore and there they lay on their oars to view us. I could now plainly see the boat was Dutch built and that there were nine men in her. Seeing them thus in suspence I called out, “From whence came ye?” They answered but I could not make it out and then came in for to land. Now a Man jumped on the beach and, saying something to them, they put off from the shore again. He then called out to me, pulling of his cap at the same time. I returned the compliment but could not understand him. After this I went up to him and held out my hand, saying, “An Englishman.”
Upon this he shook me heartily by the hand and told them they might come on shore, as I judged, for so they all did and gathered all round me in amazement, then shook me by the hand. My lads seeing this did the like, but what to make of us was their greatest wonder for not a Soul of them could speak English. But I gave them to know the best I could that I was cast away like themselves and had been on this shore above 7 years. I found they could understand 7 years by their aiming to repeat it. Then they survey’d me from top to toe, lifting up their hands and saying, “Ah, boor Mon!”
Now I found they began to fret because they could not understand me. But a lad said, “Godart Somer Engels spraken en der Schip.” This put them in a good humour again and I invited them to walk with us to our fire. This they complyed with so far as to accompany us in their boat. Here three of them landed again. No sooner did my people see them than off they ran, but I call’d them back and they came trembling with fear. One of the men asked me if they were my Vrowen, as I thought. Then they said they would go “on the Schip bring Godart Somer comen on lant” with them, but I made signs for them to go home with me. This they declined but concluded one should stay with me. As it was his own offer we all shook hands then and off they put for the Vessel.
After they were gone I asked this man his name and he said it was Jan Brill. Now finding the time grow so heavy on our hands for want of understanding each other, and as he appeared quite disconsolate I told Toby to go with the small canoa and fetch some victuals. In the mean time the man and I walked too and fro on the beach. He held me now and then in talk, but as I could not understand him it was of little purpose; and thus we remained untill Toby returned. Now Harry and Toby were so full of it that they would have fed the poor man. Harry would now and then take him by the hand and say he was like me, meaning cast away.
Sometime after, we saw the boat go along side and about dusk they returned and brought Godart Somer with them. They had not been landed long before it came into my head that I must for certain have seen the young fellow before as his countenance appear’d familiar to me. I then enquired from whence came they. He told me the Texel and that the Ships name was Dertroost and that they were bound for Buenos Ayres. “Did you never Sail out of England?” said I.
“Yes,” said he, “three Voyages.”
I then asked him if he ever sail’d on board a Ship call’d the Harrington out of London. He paused awhile and the replied, “Oh, no, neet! Over Ick vas on bord dat Schip. I been gon on shore en der Gravsend.” Directly I found him to be the person I took him for, as he was one of the Supernumeraries put on shore at that place. They were all pleased at this and began to grow impatient for him to ask me questions as whether I knew the Coast well, and that their Skipper desired I would come on board with them.
I told him I was so far from knowing anything of the coast that I knew not where I was myself, but if they wanted to be informed about the shoals any where nigh my habitation I was at the Captains service; but as to my going on board It could be of no manner of use except to oblige him, and told him that I did not care to go then as I expected another squall from the same quarter. And as for their impatience, it was my opinion that she would never more be got from that place for that she would sow down in the Sand and perhaps was bilged now; but they would not think so and begged I would come off as erly in the morning as I could to shew them some channel if they could hale her off by any means. Now it came on to rain again, and we soon lost sight of her. Shortly after the wind it chopt round to the Southward and freshen’d up and increased so that I did not chuse to remain where we then were with our little family. I then told them that I must return home and if they chose to go with me they were welcome, as I thought they could not pretend to get on board that night without danger of filling by the great sea which would soon set in if the wind should increase. But they chose to make the trial and we parted.
All this time the wind strengthened, and when we had got round the point we were as safe as in a mill pond. They laboured at their oars for some time while I remained within the point and much troubled in mind as thinking should it come to a gale, what an unhappy condition those poor souls would then be in. But a few minutes after it increased so strong that I saw them pull round for the shore again. Directly I landed Harry and told him to run along the shore and wait for them, then get into their boat and pilot them in. This soon after was the case and away they came in after us, and soon after we all went on shore wet as drown’d Rats. I shewed them into ye kitchen and got a large fire made up to dry their cloaths for them. They all looked much cast down as expecting a miserable Account of things next morning.
I took John Brill and Somer up to my lodging as thinking they might want to have some counsil with me, for Sleep never once Visited us all the night. Thus we sat and talked, but Mr. Brill wept much. At last We got up and went to look out, visited the kitchen, and found them all as fast and snoring as tho no trouble had befell them. I then called Ocuma and told her to order some torches and bring them in. After Toby had fixed them he kindled up the fire. And now the wind abated; at length toward morning it fell stark calm. Then I proposed to Somer that we would awake the people and go in quest of the rest, as I told him we might depend they never staid by the vessel for that I was certain the Sea would make fair breach over her on that reef. This they agreed to, but when we came to rouze them they were so ignorant of their scituation that they acted very foolish, running against the thatch and asking nonsensical questions, as Somer told me. But trouble soon brought them to reason, and I ordered Harry to get our canoa ready to go with me.
This was about 4 in the morning and away we all went, leaving Toby with the Women. When we got some distance out we saw the Ship had swung round and lay on her beem ends. No boat appeared to be near her. Mr. Brill then wrung his hands like a man in despair. Somer told me he wanted for me to go on board with him and to come into their boat. This I did and we put the canoa to a killick. We then rowed away for the Vessel. Soon after this Somer call’d out in Dutch that he saw their longboat. I soon saw her and people walking on a point above the old Cave. On this we got head round and pulled away from them. When we came in with the beach I saw 5 men who all ran and shewed much gladness to see their shipmates again. Mr. Brill then asked for the Skipper. They said he insisted to abide by the ship with 5 more and that they knew not whether they had survived the dreadful night or not.
Now there was no time to be lost, so off they put for the Ship but soon returned saying there was not one Soul left alive any where on board. I then asked Somer which was the Mate and he pointed to him and I went and shook hands with him. I then desired Somer to inform him that I desired they should all return back with me to my place and there we would hold a consultation on what was first to be done as the Ship was past all redemption lost. While I was speaking I observed one man who went up the beach and seated himself on the grass to bemoan his wretched fate, as I judged, but to my great surprize saw him very deliberately draw out of his pocket a pipe and pouch of Tobacco, then fill his pipe. After this he drew out a Tinder horn, struck fire and lit his pipe, then with much composure clasped his two arms round his shins and began to puff away without any seeming concern at all.
They soon came to a conclusion and away we all put for ye old Cave. There we landed and got a parcell of roots and the only turtle we had in store. After this we all put away and put Harry on board his Canoa and so returned to our place where 14 of them landed, being all who were left alive. Now I had enough on my head to have so many mouths to feed and knew not for what length of time. And should they take it into their minds to have full possession we had no power of resisting.
Then I asked Somer what was the Mates name and he told me it was Jacob Van Tulden. Upon this I welcomed him to my poor habitation as an asylum and desired him that he would favour me so far as to be a friend in endevouring to protect our Girls from any insult which might be offered them. This Somer told him in Dutch privatly and he then took me by the hand, promising to do all in his power on that score. As these Men talked a language unknown to all my People the Girls kept aloof, being not a little afraid of them. Mr. Van Tulden, observing the colour of my children, asked if one of the Girls was not my Wife, but I gave Somer information and he told him of the loss of my Wife, and that two of those were wives to my two friends. After this the cookery began and we all eat togather excep the females and children.
I then made Godart Somer my interpreter, speaking always through his mouth, telling him it was highly necessary for them to appoint some to fishing with one of my men; otherwise we should soon come to a Starving condition being so many. Van Tulden and Brill, who I found was the boatswain, said that it was a just observation. The next thing was to order others for fresh gangs and after a while it was settled thus: the Mate, Somer, My Self and 5 others to go away in the longboat for the Vessel; Some to cut wood; Mr. Brill to have Toby with him to guard the Girls and children; while Harry went with others after our food. When things were all adjusted we prepared to go off to the Ship. The Weather was as calm as a clock so that we got along side of her in a couple of hours.
The first thing which struck my Eye was a Yellow Cat running along the windward side mewing in a sad manner. The Ship we found bilged with all the lower tier under water above a foot or two. Then the Mate sent some of them down into the Stearage where they remained for some time. I now bade Somer inform the Mate that as I was very certain there were no inhabitant excep Indian for many leagues along this coast, I could advise him nothing better than to get what they could come at out of her for their own use. Otherwise I was sure the Natives would come and plunder all as soon as they espied ye Wreck. This alarmed him; and then we got down into the Cabbin where we found everything all gone to leward and capsised in a confused manner; but what was singular, little water was to be seen abaft. This I attributed to her being so high abaft, and she was more by the head also.
The rest of the hands I found were got into the hold, and as they came on the deck were all in liquor, but as all were now become masters and nobody left to throw the water out of the Longboat, as the Sailors term it, I had not a word to say. The Mate found a Keg of Gin in the Steerage and took a small sup, then handed it to me, but I declined it. Just then casting my Eye round I espied one of those precious things call’d a Biscuit. Eagerly I snatched it up and said, “God be praised!” then took a bite, tasting of Bread once more after being above 7 Years without one morsel. Now observing Somer to grow intoxicated a little, I made a bold to chide him, saying they knew not how precious their time was, and that if they did not bestir themselves with speed while the weather held fair perhaps all hopes would be forever cut off. This he took kindly and told the rest what I said. They seemed to be a little more on their guard after this, and Somer told the Mate that there were two of the people dead in the forecastle, as they told him. There were two of the hands who had perhaps done that miserable folly, as seeing death before their Eyes, took their fill of liquor to forget death. He said their names were Verwilt and Poersen.
After this I happened to ask Somer to beg the Mate to look me some paper if it could be come at. “Paper,” said he, “dare is more as a boat load on board de Schip.” Nothing could please me better. I then asked him to mention it to Mr. Vantulden, who as soon as he could be made sensible of my desire took the hint, and runing forward by the mast clapt his hand on a vast bale of it. He seeing me so elevated took out his knife and began to cut away and soon discovered me paper enough, then going aft into his Cabbin produced me a bottle of Ink as I thought. These articles I took plenty of and got them into the boat. He then went to work in the Cabbin and got out a parcel of cloathing, several Guns and pistols, some bedding and other things, then he brought out a Quadrant. I then took out a Compass as it seemed only to be unhung; and all these we got into the boat. The people got out two barrels of beef and some bags of bread, with three Kegs of Gunpowder, Brandy and Gin; and then we put off for the first time and got back safe to our company where I found the Girls were become more free. This was owing to Brill’s good conduct.
Now the Mate reflected he had forgot to hunt for the Logbook, to bring Shott, bullets and other things of material use. But away they went the next Morning by day light for the wreck. I remain’d at home. About the same time in the evening they came back chock full. This they did dayly untill they had brough off a prodigious quantity of things untill the wind came round to the North and then blew fresh, so that the sea then beat in full on her uperworks.—I forgot to observe that the Cat jumped into the boat as we came off the firs trip, but no sooner did he jump on shore than he fell so greedy on the fish garbage that he became unable to quit the place untill Nature, being so overcharged, threw it off again or it must have died.
After they had got all from the Ship which could be got at, they began to consult what was the best step to be taken next. This I could have no hand in as I knew no more of the coast than a child, so left them to their own counsel for that.
